At last, Rabbitohs reunite the fab four

The Burgess brothers would talk about playing rugby league together when they were growing up in England. But when this photo of the four was taken in Dewsbury in 2004, they never dreamed they would finally take the field for the same team on the other side of the world.

On Tuesday, Luke, George, Tom and Sam were named in the South Sydney squad to play Wests Tigers at Allianz Stadium on Friday and will become the first quartet of brothers in more than 100 years to play alongside each other in Australia's top flight league competition.

Big family units: The Burgess brothers at home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in 2004, from left, Luke, 18, George and Thomas, 12, and Sam, 16. Photo: Mark Berry

Their backyard tussles are in the past but Luke, Sam and Thomas have squared off on the field. Luke, who played the bulk of his English career for Leeds, faced Sam and Thomas in separate matches when the pair played for Bradford. Three of the four brothers have played together at various stages but never have the quartet taken to the field together at any level.

''It was a bit weird at first,'' Luke said of playing Sam. ''Sam and I lived together so waking up on game day we'd have breakfast together. It was a weird experience knowing we'd leave together and then go our separate ways to the games. It was more weird when I played against Tom because I always see him as my little brother - he isn't my little brother any more.''

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The Burgess boys will become the first foursome of brothers to play first grade since Annandale's Roy, Ray, Rex and Bernard Norman featured in 1910.

Only Sam's squirrel grip has cost the brothers from featuring together in recent weeks. But with Sam's two-game suspension completed the brothers are likely to play against the Tigers after Sam and Luke were named to start the game and the twins on the bench.

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Luke has bounced back from a long-term shoulder injury to play strong in Sam's absence but said his return to the top grade wasn't because of Sam's indiscretion. Sam and George have been first grade regulars while Thomas made his debut in round 15.

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''It's definitely an exciting thought but at the minute that's all it is,'' Luke, 26, said. ''We are such a close team. We are four brothers within a big group of 35 brothers, that's how close we are. I think I would have played that week if Sam was in or not. It's unfortunate he was banned. You never know the four of us may have played earlier.''

Football isn't the only bond that has drawn these hulking forwards together. The death of their dad Mark of motor neurone disease when the three younger brothers were still in their teens, hit hard. Luke has taken a mentoring role of his siblings to help mum Julie, who has since joined them in Sydney.

''It's something you never get over,'' Luke said. ''To lose your father at such a young age is something you never think you're going to have to deal with. Especially the twins, they were far too young.''

Correction: The original version of this story said South Sydney and Wests Tigers would play at the ANZ Stadium. The game is at Allianz Stadium.